I don't know about you

But I'm feeling 22.

On the 29th I turned the magical age of 22. Not really magical but it was still such a fun day!
I luckily had the day off work and woke up to a vase of beautiful flowers, a sweet card, balloons, and yummy dove chocolates. I may have had one or two after breakfast! ;)

Birthday Flowers, Cake, Card, and Chocolates

Birthday Cake and Balloon

Brad got off early and we headed to the fair. I was SO excited! I grew up going to the fair every year with my family and I was looking forward to seeing how this one compared.We got lucky and Brad's company had tickets to get us in for free which was awesome! So really all we had to pay for was parking and the fair food (SO delicious but SO bad for you). We spent the day looking at the exhibits, watching shows, going to the circus, and my favorite going to the horse stables.

Hawaiian Ice at the Fair

My trooper of a husband, poor guy was sick and tired!

I really had such an awesome birthday. I'm so excited to see what 22 brings me! I'm hoping for big life accomplishments! Thank you to all of those who sent me birthday wishes! 

Love this Boy!

I have been such a slacker at blogging lately. Lots of things going on around here with school and work. I will be starting a new job on Tuesday and of course it happens the same week that midterms are going on. I will try to be better about keeping up with the good ole blog!

I hope everyone has an exciting Labor Day! We will be making our way down to Alexandria Bay to tour the Boldt Castle and I'm so excited! So expect a post with pictures to recap that fun adventure!

Isla Mujeres

Well it's been 5 days since we've been back from our one year anniversary getaway, so I guess it's about time to blog about it. To put it simply it was an "adventure" at some times and perfection the rest of the time.

I discovered on this trip that I am an anxious traveler, it really was no surprise at all though. I hate when things don't go the way I planned them going. Anyone who knows me well could tell you that. 

I don't want to dwell on all the crazy parts though because everything else was so amazing, and plus my hubby tells me the crazy parts make it an "adventure" and makes for better stories to tell our kids one day. 

But I will tell you this: 

On that first night when we walked in the door to a rose petal path, leading to two love birds on our bed, and a fruit and chocolate tray, "WOW" was all I could say. I was seriously speechless. This suite that we would be staying in for the next 4 days was bigger than our apartment.

And I will summarize what we did while we were there because if I wrote every single thing we did, this would be the longest post about a whole lot of the following:

For the next three days we spent our time laying out at the incredible white sand and clear water beach (I seriously couldn't get enough of it), hanging by the pool, enjoying beautiful sunsets, snorkeling, relaxing in the coolest cabanas, and most importantly enjoying our time together.

It was the perfect little getaway that came at the perfect time. Oh how we need that trip, a little break from work and school for the both of us. However, we're back to the real world and feeling refreshed.

One year down, eternity to go

I know, I know. I am super late (not even a week yet, but still). We have been super busy with school and work that the weeks seem to be passing by so fast. However, last Friday, the 19th, we celebrated our one year anniversary! On our anniversary both of us had to work. boo. But when I got off Brad told me he didn't have to go back to work. I came home to a clean house because Brad knows how much I love that. I also had fresh flowers in a vase on the table and two cards throughout the house (one funny and one romantic). I got dressed for our nice dinner out. After we got done with dinner we headed to the lake to meet one of our friends to take some pictures for us! We finished just in time, as we were headed to the car it started to pour rain. Perfect ending to the perfect day! (Bear with me, it's about to get mushy...but I'll make it quick)

Dear Brad,
I can't believe how fast the time flies! It really is true that time flies when you are having fun. This year has been full of ups and downs and lots of new places for us, places that we have been able to discover together and I love that, places that will bring back memories. We've experienced things that I can't wait to tell our future children all about. You have made it possible for me to cross things of my bucket list, and I hope together we can cross off more in the years to come! I have learned a lot in this past year about you and myself. Things I would have only learned in this exact situation. I'm so grateful to be married to you, Brad. I know I can always count on you to be here for me which is such a blessing. You go above and beyond for me on a daily basis and for that I'm so thankful. But above all I am so grateful that we were married in the Temple and that I can be with you for eternity, what an incredible blessing! I can't imagine my life without you, and luckily I don't have to! I can't wait to see what this next year holds for us! Here's to eternity!




One Year Anniversary from Brett Schmidt on Vimeo.
Now all we have to do is finish this week and then we are off to Isla Mujeres for a few days to celebrate our anniversary! To say I'm excited would be an understatement! Hope everyone has a happy hump day!

Oh and of course you want to see our anniversary pictures (okay maybe not, but here they are anyways!)
 

"God Shows His Love By Giving Us Families"

This past week the baby sister came to visit me. Although it was a spur of the moment trip I'm so glad she came! Since I've been so homesick lately it was a nice little pick me up especially since I would have been sitting at home all by myself all week! While she was here we just had to go visit all the church history sites. So on Tuesday we headed to Palmyra, NY which is only about 45 minutes from our apartment. Within the first 15 minutes of the drive I felt like I had got stung on my arm and it was swelling and turning red, I look down and see a yellow jacket just chilling on my chest like its no big deal. Of course I start freaking out, so we pull over to a gas station, and Colby took care of me. Thank goodness she was there. Anyways...off topic sorry.

So the first thing we did was the Joseph Smith Farm. I had already been once before but it was still just as fun and uplifting as it was the first time. I liked how each tour guide tells their favorite stories about the history of the Joseph Smith Farm. Both times had totally different stories and I definitely learned new things. After we finished touring the Farm we went in the Sacred Grove. However, we didn't stay in there as long as I thought we would because the mosquitoes are bad because of all the rain we've been getting and since I had been stung by a yellow jacket earlier and Colby has hives due to an allergic reaction we decided it was best to not stay out too long.

After we finished up there we went and walked around the Palmyra Temple Grounds. It reminds we a lot of the Birmingham Temple where Brad and I were sealed (almost a year ago!) Then we were off to the LDS Bookstore (so I could get a picture of Christ for our apartment). After we got the picture we walked to go get pizza at this little whole in the wall pizza place, it was seriously the best pizza and it really hit the spot. Then of course we had to go get some ice cream and it was in this cute little shop that was run by elderly people. And let me tell you something Colby and I LOVE talking with elderly people, we probably could have stayed there all day. However, we had so much to do still.

Hill Cumorah was next. Although pageant is this upcoming weekend I still wanted to go and take Colby especially since I hadn't gone yet. We walked into the Visitors Center and I immediately could feel the spirit. We had a sister missionary take us around and we sat in front of the Christus Statue. I teared up a little but I held it in. It wasn't until we were taken into the theater to watch a short clip about how families are forever that I completely lost it.

I really wish I could find a link to that video because although it is so simple it is so beautiful. There were so many parts that the spirit was so strong in that room. The one part that stuck out to me was "God shows His love by giving us families." See I told you it was simple but yet this simple phrase spoke wonders to me. Our loving Heavenly Father knew what He was doing. He knew how much we would need our families for their love and support as we go through this test of life on Earth. We had families in Heaven before so why wouldn't we have them here. It may be because like I mentioned before I have been so homesick but I am just so grateful that my Heavenly Father loved and cared about me so much that He sent me to a wonderful family here on Earth that I know I can always count on to love and support me. After the video ended Colby and I drove to the top of the hill and had a wonderful heart to heart. I'm so grateful that we were able to go on a spiritually uplifting trip for the day.

Thanks for coming to visit me, Colby! Hopefully the North didn't treat you too bad!

Father's Day 2013

Father's Day Weekend is here so of course I have to talk about my Faddah!

I'm not sure why I call him that, but I like it and I personally think he likes it too.

My dad is an awesome man and an even better dad. Let me tell you what, he made the BEST girl dad. Some of my greatest memories of him are when he lets us girls play beauty shop on him. He let us put bows in his hair and even paint his toe nails. What a trooper!

My dad has taught me many things and I am grateful that he took time out of his day and schedule to always put all of his girls at the top of his priority list. There are times I think back on when my dad was both working and going back to school and he still made sure that all of his ladies were taken care of and that we all knew how much he loved us.

I know my dad would do anything in order to provide for and protect his family. He is a great example of the qualities I wanted in a husband and a father figure for my own children (and I got so lucky). I am so thankful that he showed me how important it is to have a worthy priesthood holder. I have received so many blessings from the priesthood and I am glad my dad made sure that we knew that we never had to hesitate asking for a blessing.  

I am thankful to my Heavenly Father for sending me to such a tender hearted and loving Daddy. I am beyond grateful for the love and support that he continually gives me!

Happy Father's Day, Faddah! 

I love you! 

Every Love Story Is Beautiful

I've had a lot on my mind lately. The biggest one is how much I love married life (not the fairy tale married life that every girl dreams of) but OUR married life. Is it always easy well no not really, but it's ALWAYS worth it. One of the biggest things that my parents taught me is how important marriage and family are.

The past few days I have felt so in love with Brad and with our marriage. I am not sure if it's because next month we will be celebrating ONE YEAR or if I'm just now becoming more aware of how much I love the little things that makes us...well US. We are still in the newlywed stage and I want to take advantage of this time in our life.

I have a confession though, I am always comparing the things we do to the things that other newlywed bloggers do. I know they say "Comparison is the thief of joy" and lately this has screamed to be so true to me.

Do we do something fun and exciting every weekend, not at all. Do we do the cute stuff that girls see all over Pinterest boards, no. (Do I try? YES. haha) We do however manage to have a good time every weekend whether that is going to the temple, a festival downtown, or simply just staying home and relaxing. There is nothing I love more than the simple things that make our marriage seem magical like the way Brad always holds my hand as we say our nightly prayer, or the way he will come and slow dance with me when I've had a rough day and just need to be held.

Although things at our house have been a little crazy lately there is nothing more comforting than knowing
that we can turn to our Heavenly Father for His loving guidance. We are trusting in Him and I know that He has the perfect plan for us, no matter what that plan is, I know it will be an amazing journey.

 

Birthday Shout Out to Faddah

Today is Faddah's birthday! I remember growing up never getting to celebrate his birthday with him on his actual birthday because us girls were always at girls camp. And sadly I don't get to be there again! So I hope today that Mo and Colby shower him with love! I'm so grateful to be this man's daughter. My daddy has the most tender heart of anyone I know. He sacrifices so much to provide for us. I'm grateful that he holds the priesthood and makes sure to be worthy of it at all times. There have been many times where I have been sick or nervous and I never hesitated to ask for a blessing. I will never forget the good times we had during our daddy daughter date nights and our personal interview chats! He makes sure we know what to do in order to get by on our own...and let's be honest the guys at the car shop were pretty impressed I knew how to change and rotate tires and I owe that all to this man!

Happy Birthday Faddah

Love 

Your Brettly